PKA: Offhand Practice - Matt (Jack)

I brush a hand through my hair casually. It's a bit longer than it usually is. I am no doubt going to get nagged to trim it for the cadet program. Why must they take every ounce of masculinity I have? Beard, hair. Next they'll be taking everything manly away and replacing it with their own gender. 'Peacekeeper', it'll be called. No sex, no parties and definitely no fun. "To some beers without crazy chicks." I raise my glass at him. "Here's to that." I announce. "I can't believe those girls were all over us like flies on a pile of shite." He says bluntly, but it's exactly what I need. Nice humor, lightness and a beer. I stretch a little, cracking my neck which has become a tendency since I have the scars. "Well, maybe you can't believe it." I laugh at him cheekily with an ego that's only welcome in this kind of place. "You almost got laid in front of everybody." I roll my eyes playfully. "Right, well I stopped that roundabout." I laugh again, taking a drink of the beer and cringing a little at the strength of it. "There was no way I was getting busy with her. I can't deal with a one night stand, I'd worry too much." The topic is quite a normal one for two lads to talk about. I actually wonder who Matt's type would be now, whether he's still with Kyanite and all that. I need a good catch-up because I'm out of the loop recently. But can I ask that kind of thing?

I don't want to risk it. Instead I try to play it a little safer. "I know your mind isn't exactly on other girls right now, but what's your type?" I ask him casually since it's an iffy subject, but I think it's suiting for a bar talk.



Across the bar there's some colleagues, one of which is Nica Strong, another is talking to her. She's a small looking young woman, blonde hair cut a little shorter than the average woman but still feminine. Probably the longest that females could get away with without having to tie it up. "So what do you think about the new cadets? Anybody who could actually become a real peace keeper?" Nica asks her. "Well, I heard that one of them had to arrest one of his own family members. Didn't even flinch, apparently." She says matter-of-factly. "That's exactly what we need on the force. People who don't have those ties to their folks." She takes a drink. "Then there's the Ruze fella. He seemed good in his first course, I guess. I haven't seen the rest."

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"Why would you worry because of a one night stand?" He asks me. "Well the person who you get with has to mean something. It can't just be a number on your chart." I pause, thinking back to when I had told Matt I'd had one girlfriend in the past. It wasn't at all true of course. I simply just haven't found the right one at all. They have always been annoying as fuck, or little brats. Careers aren't girlfriends, they're leeches. That's how I see it, at least. Kyanite made me think otherwise though, but I'd never stoop so far as to even think about her in that way. "I've had a few of those and never worried once...that was until I woke up and had to sneak out...that's when you worry whether you've just left behind your dignity." He sounds like he's been everywhere. He makes it sound like he knows more girls than I thought, at least. I still wouldn't do it though.

"I don't have a type, man. I don't even like girls." I raise a very quizzical brow at him. "Well you've gotta like one of them, girls or guys. I'd make up your mind before..." I stop myself from saying 'before Kyanite is back', because I have no clue what I'm talking about. I'm trying very hard not to piss him off here. I cough away my mistake, taking a drink. "I used to hate all chicks with a passion. Never understood them, never cared to, all of those girls are just so twisted." He's making me wonder again. He did this last time, said he didn't like girls. I didn't think too much of it last time, but after him denying the girl's attention in the clubhouse last time, it spurs all kinds of suspicions.

"What about you? I've never seen you with a girl." He's implying it, and I'm a little shocked. I look a little embarrassed, I can feel it. "Well, I haven't exactly been the luckiest guy in the world. Anyway, what if I didn't like girls?" I laugh cheekily at him because it's too funny to not say. I'm only messing, teasing and poking holes. Not many girls would approach me at all at school. In any event, it was Alex that got the ladies in school, or Joe. Never me for some reason. I'm not sure. I neglect to think about Joe though, not dwelling on the past tonight. I kind of avoid the topic since I'm a little ashamed at my lack of skills with the females.

"Strong, here's your refill...I think we have two strays over there." The colleague says to Nica. "We'd best round them up."

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"Do I strike you as that kind of guy?" He asks me. I shake my head, holding in a laugh. "Well, that's fine with me. We are who we are, right?" My laugh still doesn't come out. I hold it in well. I can't believe he's falling for it, am I that believeable to be gay? At least he'd have accepted it. Not many people are that open minded. I would be, but then again I've never had it happen to me like that. "I don't get why though...you're a good looking guy, strong, rich...you'd be a good catch." I have a look of absolute humour on my face. I'm at the brink of keeping in my laugh, but the moment he says "You're a good looking guy," I'm gone. Laughter just bursts out of me. "Quit flattering me, I was joking!" I shake my head at him. The truth actually is I predominantly like girls, but I believe that you can love anybody so the rest is self explanatory. "Nice try though. Maybe say more about my hair next time. I like my hair." I tell him jokingly.

It's great being out like this. And to be honest, I can't wait to get back to my family. After all that has happened in the family, we'll likely end up having a nice night in, watch something on the TV or maybe even have a night out. I look forward to it. It's a warm feeling to love your family, and I wish everybody could have it. I wish everybody could just be as grateful for their own blood, but not everybody is as gifted. I know that some people have terrible parents, poor parents and even no parents. I am too lucky in that regard. Hopefully the fact that I'm grateful makes me look less posh, wealthy and snobby. I hate that outlook. Just because I can afford things like that doesn't mean I actually go out and buy all of the expensive stuff. The only things I've known myself to buy that's expensive is free-weights to use at home whilst I was recovering from the hospital. That was it. The rest is just given to either my parents or spent on little evenings out like this one. The only other people I would ever consider having a night out would be Max, Alex and maybe some more distant relatives that are more like friends. I don't think a night out with uncle Mike or my dad would go very well. My dad would be too serious, and Mike would be too relaxed to talk about anything remotely genuine. It's so strange how they're different yet brothers. I'm similar to mine in all ways known.

The drink isn't going down quickly. I'm taking my time because I know what happened the last time. Plus, it's not good to drink this stuff too fast because it's quite strong. My thoughts are subtly on the topic of girls still. What I like, who I like. Who I've been with. It's been mainly nobody. In the future, I want to be able to have my job, family and kids around me. I don't want to be left behind, working in the mines. I want to earn my way into a well paying job, and finally service myself off as a trainer. Whether that's making my own gym to train the newer careers or not. I would happily do that. I could even teach them a few things.

I think of what else to talk about. "I've been meaning to ask," I roll the sleeves of my long-sleeved t-shirt up to my elbows. It reveals the scars from the fight unintentionally, but there's also the bracelet he gave me for my birthday which is a little sentimental. I have to admit to myself that I am thankful for the gift, but at any moment I could easily switch the thought and see it as a constant reminder of what he did. I don't, because that's not how I think about things. "We need to do more things like this. There's a lot to do in Two, but nobody really does do it. Do you play a sport? Me and Alex used to go swimming a lot." There's nothing else to talk about that I can think of. Nothing else really happens in ours lives anymore besides that and the Peacekeeper Academy. There's little else we have to talk about, unless he can think of something more decent.

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"Well, you do have very nice hair as well." He tells me which leads me to wonder whether I should be flattered or concerned. "Well I still need it cut." I tell him quickly. I've never been good with compliments, given or taken. "Did you like my hair? Before I buzzed it off?" He asks me, and I answer before thinking with "I'm not a huge fan of the whole... long hair thing." Long hair is actually something I'd hate to have. It'd get in the way all of the time, and it's far too different for me. I prefer to have not necessarily a military-cut hair style, but just a bit after, as though I've let it grow a little. "I gotta keep it short while this gig lasts but then I'm growing it again." I frown a little at him. "Nah, keep it like that. Girls'll dig it." I say. "Your choice though, haha."

"I expected something else...I ...nope, not really. I spend most of my time at my dads engineering company, then I train...well used to and hang out with friend. We used to swim a lot in the summer." Expected something else? What like? I can only imagine, really. I knew all about his engineering company already, or his dad's at least. I didn't know he swam though, it'll have to be something for the future. "I play the piano." I smile at him because there's something we have in common now. I don't play the piano though, I played the drums for a little in school and then kind of learned the guitar in some free time I had. "Now don't start laughing again." He tells me, expecting some kind of laughter. "Nah mate, I can relate to that. I'm a drummer." Maybe we'll jam one day.



"I think we should make our move now." Nica tells one of the Peacekeepers around the table. "Relax girl, we'll do it in our own time." One of the more masculine ones say. Then the blonde peacekeeper opens her mouth, "Come on, we'll go get them." She stands, waiting for Nica to proceed with it.



After getting up to get another beer for himself, only himself because I'm not even halfway through mine, he comes back and retakes his seat. "So, what are your hobbies? And is this you asking me out on a date or what?" I raise a playful brow at him. "Sure, whatever you call it." He carries on though, "I understand you don't have much of a choice when the only girl in your vicinity is Vy." I roll my eyes at the thought of anything with Vy. I just don't like her at all. It's nothing majorly personal, I just hate the whole butch female get-up. Not my thing, never will be really. I am tempted to joke about Kyanite and how she talked to me that one time at the hospital, but I'm not Max. So I don't. "Well, a man's gotta do what he's gotta do." I pause to tell him of my hobbies. "So yeah, I used to play the drums. I swim, you know that already. I look after Tyler," That brings a warm smile to my face, as usual. Family is everything, but he's everything and more. "I don't work anymore since the hospital but I used to be a construction worker for dad's company." I pause again, wondering whether to say the next thing. "It's strange how after the hospital I've noticed how different Alex and I are." I lean on my arm on the table. "I think he's ahead of me." I laugh a little. It feels like that though. As though my life was on pause.

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"Because of me?" I put my hands up, "Hey, I'm not complaining." I smirk because I feel the necessity to make light of the situation. I take a nice drink of my beer. "Well, ever since you cut off my fingers I haven't been able to do any of the delicate platines." He tells me, but I'm not sure what platines means. Maybe that's a good thing because he follows with "Forget that comment." which I shrug off because I'm not all too sure what he meant. Perhaps for the best though.

"You're actually ahead of me. You make me learn." He admits. It takes me surprise because I always felt like I was playing catch-up. "I was never able to befriend any rival. I'd never let that sort of thing go...until you came along.Working on it now." Working on it. At least I've helped somebody. At least somebody has gained from our past. I know I have, with a friend, but other than that there's not much I've literally gained. The whole new mentality has been a welcome change though. Without the pregames I would never have changed in such a way. It's almost like a U-turn in life, for the best. Matthew hadn't seen much of my previous tendencies and I'm glad, because they weren't so good.

"Hi?" Matthew asks the person approaching us, with some other girl behind her. "Having a good night out?" She asks me. Quickly though, Matthew has an answer already set up. "Sorry ladies, we're just having a few beers. We're both taken." I eye him slightly since I wonder who these people are. They don't look like typical girls. They look like a pair of Vys, and that makes my head keep on its toes. "I was. Do you plan on changing that?" I ask them.

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With a slam on the table, and a prior "You bet.", I'm officially a little nervous. But as usual, my nerves turn into a form of humour. This can easily be a simple situation. "Oh shit." Escapes Matt, I exhale so that my laugh isn't obvious at all. "Yeah, that would sum you two up. Shit one and shit two." One of them says. She's a bitch, just like Vy. But I guess we are in the wrong. I could easily navigate my way out of this; just pretend we weren't aware of the rules since it's our first week. "I know how this looks but I'm pretty sure we can find some sort of a deal here, right?" Sorry Matthew, but I'm not agreeing with you on this one. This isn't something we can avoid. These two must be pretty good peacekeepers to be allowed out at times like this. "It's Tuesday and you're not allowed to leave until the weekend. That's how it looks, what deal did you have in mind, Cadet? Time travelling?" Okay, now my laugh escapes.

"IS SOMETHING FUNNY?" She yells at me, a couple of heads turning. "Nope." I say with a smirk. "Let's go." She grabs Matthew but he relieves her of her duties.

"Get up, now. And no bargaining. You two are in deep shit." I look at her as though she'd suggested I jump off a cliff. I don't say anything, I just grab a hold of my half finished beer glass and put it to my lips, going to down all of it. A quarter is left and suddenly it is snatched from my hands, and being poured all over my clothes. I give her a glare of absolute distaste. I don't look happy. "Why did you pick this bar of all the ones out there, Ocra, you dumb shit." I hate people knowing my name. I hate it. I hate the fact my father is known, and I hate how known it gets me. If they are able to talk shit to me, I can talk shit back. I reserve my anger at the situation though in a true Orca fashion. "This is where all the fucked up people go, sir." I say with a reluctance. I glare at her, standing up. It isn't worth my dignity to start a scene. Not in a bar that know who I am.

When I stand I can tell I won't be running away from this. Usually they would cuff us and take us in as though we were prisoners. But they haven't. We're on our way out now and I'm walking behind Matt, who is walking behind the brown haired one. The blonde is behind me. They have a car outside and round the corner. Quite clearly a peacekeeper one. I'm put in first, I don't know whether Matthew has a plan but I think the best thing is just to get the slap on the wrist and go back. "Cadets, I hope you're pleased with yourselves. I hope you know what happens to your kind."

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